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Talking Pictures: 'Jarhead' is a much underrated piece of war film cinema

Las Cruces Sun-News

Posted:
08/13/2014 03:26:49 PM MDT

War films, quite obviously, are films about war. They can range from films about POW's, the effects of war on society (and soldiers), the futility of war, or the heroism of soldiers. There are biographies, docudramas, documentaries and fictional narratives.

War films have been around almost as long as film itself, dating back to the 1910s. Some of the earliest examples were propaganda films made to stir up support for war. Some films are made very close to when war would occur, like "The Deer Hunter," made three years after the Vietnam War ended. Others like "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Pianist" were made decades after World War II ended. Rather than go on about the pantheon of war films that everyone should see — "Apocalypse Now," "Full Metal Jacket," "The Thin Red Line" — I'd like to talk about what I consider to be a very underrated war film: "Jarhead."

Based on the memoir of the same name by Anthony Swofford, "Jarhead" tells the story of Swofford's experiences as a scout sniper during the Gulf War.

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It is the year 1989, and Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) had completed basic Marine Corps training and is stationed at Camp Pendleton. Swofford is not a particularly enthusiastic soldier, keeping his military involvement low by faking sick. When a Marine Staff Seargant named Sykes (Jamie Foxx) catches him, his form of punishment is to urge Swofford to train under him as a Scout Sniper. Out of the many candidates vying for a spot, Swofford manages to be one of the final eight and is now officially a U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper. He is assigned a "spotter" named Troy (a fantastic Peter Sarsgaard), and the two reluctantly become friends. Unlike any other war movie you've seen, "Jarhead" narrows its sights on the day-to-day monotony of being a soldier. Swofford's unit spends most of their time training and drilling relentlessly and speculating on how faithful their wives and girlfriends are being overseas. But amidst the dizzy routine, we also see a brotherhood between the soldiers forming. As the war rolls on and still not a shot fired, Swofford and Troy and the rest of their unit slowly began to unravel in the white-hot, dream-like desert, eventually begging for combat.

"Jarhead" is a truly unique and underrated war film. There are definitely weaknesses here — the opening of the film a pale imitation of a similar scene in "Full Metal Jacket" and some parts of the film clearly based on military legend, but regardless, "Jarhead" is one of the most captivating glimpses into the mind of a soldier.

Perhaps overlooked because of its almost preconceived and supposed political slant, "Jarhead" is actually one of the more fair representations of the military experience.

Directed by Sam Mendes at nearly the peak of his powers — a lot of his work has slipped since this — "Jarhead" is a moving and enlightening film about one of the more overlooked components of war: boredom. These were soldiers so desperate for combat that perhaps they eventually began to perceive killing as a means of release, or even more frightening, they view it as affirmation of their purpose in life. So forget everything you've heard "Jarhead" and just watch the movie with no barriers up. I think you'll be very surprised.

Sheridan O'Donnell reviews movies not in theaters anymore. Send your suggestions (and comments) to odsher@gmail.com and your film might just be in next week's Pulse.